Construction of Kakigani piped water supply scheme in Rwampara complete
The facility is set to be handed over to the South Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation (SWUWS) based in Mbarara City for operation, maintenance and expansion of customer connections.
A section of the newly completed Kakigani Piped Water Supply System in Rwampara District. (Courtesy photos)
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The Ministry of Water and Environment has intensified preparations to operationalise the newly completed Kakigani Piped Water Supply System in Rwampara district following a technical inspection by the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Eng. John Vianne Twinomujuni, the ministry's Commissioner in charge of the Department of Urban Water and Sewerage Development, led the team that visited the sh2.1b project in Rwampara on Monday (November 9) to assess whether the infrastructure is ready to provide safe and reliable water to the communities it was built to serve.
The project was fully funded by the Government of Uganda through the water and environment ministry.
The inspection focused on the performance and condition of the water source structures, treatment facilities, pumps, storage reservoir (100,000 liters), power supply, office block and over 25 kilometres of pipelines. It also aimed at identifying outstanding defects, review water-quality and pressure-control arrangements, and establish maintenance and safety requirements before regular operations begin.
Commissioner of the Department of Urban Water and Sewerage Services in Uganda Eng. John Vianne Twinomujuni (in yellow cap) discussing with inspection team during the tour on Monday
For years, households in Kakigani have faced difficulties in accessing safe water, with women and children spending valuable time walking long distances to fetch it. During the inspection, the commissioner also engaged women and children fetching water and explained how the new scheme is expected to bring services closer to homes.
To ensure affordable and sustainable water services, the SWUWS, which will operate and maintain the scheme, offers a user-friendly domestic tariff of sh2,990 per unit or per 1,000 liters (equivalent to 50 jerrycans of 20 litres each).
This makes safe water more accessible to low-income households. Through regular maintenance, water quality monitoring, prompt response to breakdowns and expansion of household connections, SWUWS aims at ensuring reliable, affordable and sustainable water supply services for communities.
The project is designed to reach all 10 villages in Kakigani Parish, initially serving an estimated 3,000 people and up to 5,000 by 2045. Infrastructure includes 10 public standposts and connections to Kakigani Primary School, Kakigani Health Centre II and Kakigani Church of Uganda.
The system is designed to serve 400 connections. The scheme is expected to improve hygiene, ease the burden of water collection and free up time for education, farming, trade and other income-generating activities.
The visit forms part of the commissioner’s oversight to ensure that completed projects translate into reliable services and lasting public benefits.